Natural flavonoids effectively block the CD81 receptor of hepatocytes and inhibit HCV infection: a computational drug development approach

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern, and almost two million people are infected per year globally. This is occurred by the diverse spectrum of viral genotypes, which are directly associated with chronic liver disease (fibrosis, and cirrhosis). Indeed, the viral genome encodes three principal proteins as sequentially core, E1, and E2. Both E1 and E2 proteins play a crucial role in the attachment of the host system, but E2 plays a more fundamental role in attachment. The researchers have found the "E2-CD81 complex" at the entry site, and therefore, CD81 is the key receptor for HCV entrance in both humans, and chimpanzees. So, the researchers are trying to block the host CD81 receptor and halt…